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Plot: An altar boy is accused of murdering a priest, and the truth is buried several layers deep.

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Recent Reviews

  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 5, 2008
    As much as I don't like Gere I absolutely love Norton...
    This is a clever story and Norton completely steals it. One moment you want to kick his ass and the next you want to hold him - very clever indeed!
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 2, 2008
    wow i have just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch....this has got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie...i think that richard gere is great as the lead in this movie because he is a talented actor n hes made some good movies throughout...this is a powerful movie 2 watch...i think that the director of this Drama, Mystery & Suspense movie has done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie because the director keeps you on the edge's of your seats throughout this movie,...this has got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie n i think that edward norton n john mahoney (who plays frazier's dad martin in the hit tv show frazier is an allround good actor n hes done some good movies/tv shows throughout..this is a good powerful movie 2 watch
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    August 1, 2008
    I gave it an extra half-star because, without Edward Norton, the film would a middle-of-the-road, courtroom drama that could've been a storyline for The Practice. (It's better in it's written form.) Neither Richard Gere, nor Laura Linney (the two headliners), made me sit up and listen, but Norton did. His role is so eerily convincing that when you get to the finale, it's like someone has stuck a chord out for you to trip on. Again, nicely, McDoramand makes subtlety into an art form.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 28, 2008
    Edward Norton gives a tremendous performance as Aaron/Roy and steals the movie under Richard Gere and Laura Linney's veteran (at the time) noses.
  • 4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 24, 2008
    Edward Norton's performance here was amazing. This should have given him the Oscar. CGJr beat him because of Jerry Maguire. No... that doesn't compute.
  • 4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 22, 2008
    fantastic movie!

    i loved it so much, especially the ending.

    edward norton's performance is what saved a rather average film.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 15, 2008
    Ed Norton was amazing! Honestly for one of his first pieces it was brilliant! I loved the ending and didnt guess it at all. Norton was brilliant!
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 13, 2008
    Edward Norton is unbelievable in this. I highly recommend the book because it gets a lot deeper into his character's past.
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 3, 2008
    This movie is actually pretty gripping, and Edward Norton certainly announced his arrival with his debut performance here. The movie's mystery is also fairly compelling.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 3, 2008
    I kept kicking myself over and over again for not having seen this film. An excellent performance, by Norton. I was surprised by this film.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    June 24, 2008
    I just rewatched this movie, becuase I had spent a couple of months lending it out so all of my friends would watch it.

    I had forgotten how amzing it is. Well, how amazing Edward Norton is.

    I mean...truly his performance is worth the entire movie and without his character...the movie is just...plain.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 24, 2008
    Predictable, but it made me watch it til the end to have sure that it really was what I was thinking. I think that for a debut Edward Norton had made a perfect performance.
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 23, 2008
    Edward Norton is a god. The movie wasn't too bad; I honestly found it a little anticlimactic and muddled, but luckily the performances helped save that.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    June 23, 2008
    This is a great film the first time you see it. I don't know how much re-play value it has. It falls to the wayside like the sixth sense.
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    June 22, 2008
    normally i'd be completely gung-ho for this kind of movie, but gere acting like a tough guy gets annoying after a while, and the twist is really, really stretched.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    June 12, 2008
    This was the first movie that I saw with Ed Norton in and it blew me away.
    It reminded me of The Usual Suspects because of the ending.
    Not only is the story great, the parts by the lawyers wer superb.
    Laura Linney owned her role and I was suprised noone got nominated for anything.

    Everyone wants that lawyer that everyone's heard about and they come in and don't know what they have gotten themselves into. They are way in over their heads and it's too late to back out.
    I loved every minute of this flick.
  • 4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 7, 2008
    this movie proves why the academy awards people are a bunch of wankers. edward norton deserved the award
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    June 7, 2008
    Whoa. I wish I never knew the ending of this because I was laughing and I wouldn't have laughed if I didn't know the truth. Nevertheless, the end still freaked me out. Edward Norton, you were a scary boy.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    May 22, 2008
    I really like Edward Norton and Richard Gere but this movie was weird. from start to finish the plot was just strange and I didn't like the whole outcome.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 14, 2008
    Edward Norton is fantastic in this movie. It is a little rough in spots, but I highly recommend it.
  • 4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    May 6, 2008
    kes seda näinud pole, ei tea millest ilma on jäänud. väga hea film, ma olen kindel et see meeldib naistele ka :D
  • 4.5 Stars
    MCT:
    April 16, 2008
    ed norton is gr8 in psychological thrillers. (also in 'fight club'). this is
    another movie supporting my hatred of church. richard gere is a gr8 lawyer character, a bit like how he is in 'pretty woman'. laura linney's character such a horny bitch!
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    April 15, 2008
    Martin Vail (Gere) is an arrogant, spotlight-hugging, high-powered lawyer. His photogenic appearance and over-confident demeanour means that he normally ends up dominating the monthly magazines much to the chagrin of those who have to work with him. When the Archbishop of Chicago is viciously murdered, Vail seizes the opportunity to grab the headlines again by representing the Kentucky youth, Aaron (Norton), who is accused of his murder. All the evidence points to his guilt but he insists that someone else committed the murder. It soon becomes clear that there is more to the case than meets the eye and evidence of corruption and perversion give Vail a chance to implant doubt in the mind of the jurors. He is also forced to compete with Janet Venable (Laura Linney, 'Dave', 'Congo') who takes on the duel role as prosecution lawyer and Vail's ex-lover.

    The performances in this movie are excellent. I've never been one for Richard Gere but he pulls out a marvellous performance as does Oscar winning actress, Frances McDormand (for 'Fargo'), who plays Molly, the psychiatrist. And having said all that, the show is stolen by Academy Award Nominee, Edward Norton. Norton (nominated for this very role) plays the babbling altar boy, Aaron, who is accused of the heinous crime. It's this mature performance from the little known actor which really turns this film on its head. There is admirable support too from John Mahoney and Andre Braugher ('Striking Distance'), Terry O'Quinn ('The Stepfather') and Alfre Woodard ('Passion Fish').

    The movie is chock-full of intelligent twists and even though at times it is apparent that certain areas of the plot have been glossed over (the corruption sub-plot and Vail's relationship with Venable), it is done for the benefit of the movie and can therefore be forgiven. Maybe I'm becoming a little soft, but 'Primal Fear' (based on a novel) is streets ahead of any of John Grisham's novels-turned-movies.
  • 4.0 Stars
    MCT:
    March 30, 2008
    This movie was awesome, another really good edrward Norton film, basically he's this guy called Aaron an alter boywho kills the reverand, but he makes people believe that he's schitzo and is alter ego is Roy- a psychopath, has a really good ending.

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Comments

  • tombriggs15
    This movie was awesome, another really good edrward Norton film, basically he's this guy called Aaron an alter boywho kills the reverand, but he makes people believe that he's schitzo and is alter ego is Roy- a psychopath, has a really good ending.
    posted 130 days ago
  • munakhatib
    Primal Fear is one of my favorite movies.. great story , wonderful acting , awsome staff and over all great ending .. ppl u really have to watch it!
    posted 692 days ago

Details

  • Rated: (R)
  • Directed by: Gregory Hoblit
  • Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense
  • Released: April 5, 1996
  • DVD Released: October 20, 1998

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